WasWatching.com

I don't think Joe has managed particlary well in 2005, nor all that badly. Metz-a-metz.

Lou Piniella is not an answer to an aging, overpaid team in 2006. Realistically, who will the starters be in 2006? Counting on Small, Chacon and Wang is a BIG reach next year. Not to mention a year older RJ and Mussina.

I'm with Don - the Yanks have the offense, so its the pitching that will be most important. Sweet Lou he is, but sweet with the pitchers Lou isn't.

This season hasn't been Torre's finest, but he hasn't sunk the ship either. The initially poor construction of the roster has hurt the Yanks more than anything Torre has (or hasn't) done, IMHO.

You could also argue that there was no way that Pavano and Wright were going to give you the same good performances that Leiter, Small, and Chacon have given you. The Yanks have really been saved by the great performances of these three guys, not to mention Wang, which was a bad loss for them.
It could be easily argued that having Pavano, Wright, and Brown out has saved the Yankees losses the may have gotten that Chacon and Small have given them wins, no? From the performances of the three guys that have gone down, what makes anyone think those guys were automatically better than the replacements?
Good moves by Cashman on unwanted players have saved Joe Torre and the Yanks - which may have never happened had Pavano and Wright continued to be .500 pitchers for the year.
I'm not buying into the dessimated pitching staff line, as the Yanks have had great pitching from the irregulars that they almost certainly would not have gotten from the starters who went down.

Having played organized sports for good and bad coaches, when you want to win because the person leading you into battle keeps you prepared, as well as himself, makes decisions based on his trust in his players, and puts his players in a position where they can succeed and (hopefully) give the team the best chance to win then that goes a long way with players and the ultimate success of the team. I truly believe this Torre's finest hours, we can disect many moves he's made and hasn't made, but in the end this team is competing for their playoff lives and they've come together to try and overcome the adversity they've been challenged with and they have put themselves in. It all starts with the Field General, his name is Joe Torre and he's the manager of the New York Yankees and should continue to be througout the tenure of his contract. Let someone else court Sweet Lou, we have a manager and let's not forget....this team is making the playoffs and they are deadset on winning it all.

FWIW, here's one vote for Torre this year:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/john_rolfe/09/06/getting.loose/

brad, I agree - that the pitchers who were counted on fell apart and that the guys who replaced them have done so well is a large part of the Yanks' success this year. Hence why I said "initially poor" roster construction - 90% of the roster moves made since the season started have been superb.